Chapter 10 Part 1

Chapter 10 Part 1

“For years, I have trained you.”

Her father began standing before his throne. Karai stood with her head bowed. She knew this was coming. But the shock and fear still found a way to creep into her.

“Perfected you. Raised you. Created a vision into what this clan could live up to.”

Her father’s cold voice became harsher and harsher as it rose on each word. He paced to the wall.

“And now . . .”

Her father punched the wall, immediately creating a spiderweb of cracks.

Shimata

Karai had never seen anything good happen when he was this filled with rage. She needed to think of something. Anything. Now.

“THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?! BY SURRENDERING THE MISSION?! BY NOT ONLY LETTING THEM LIVE! BUT TO ALLOW THEM TO ESCAPE AS WELL. THOSE VILE RATCHET BARBARIC CHIKU-”

“There are more.”

A beat of silence followed Karai’s interruption.

“What?”

Oh shimata that actually worked. Keep Going!

“There are more mutants. Than the four terrapin creatures. From what I gathered they consider themselves a family. Cousins and siblings.”

Her father’s figure loosened from its original stature. Moving to have his arms crossed behind him, back facing Karai. “And? What importance does this have to your failure?”

Karai was fighting both her giddy relief and anxiety at this point. To massive beast clawing at the edges of her mask.

“So instead of raising alarm to all of the mutants by obtaining a small group, why not use my role more to our advantage? If I gathered enough information you could devise the perfect plan to obtain all of the mutants. TCRI will have so many mutants in reach that they are more than likely to leave the majority to your disposal.”

A long stretch of silence came before the two warriors. Karai was preparing herself for the worst. Any day could be the end so she had to be prepared.

“You have impressed me my daughter. You may proceed with the mission. I will contact TCRI.”

She let out a heavy breath of relief. That was close.

“But. You still disobeyed me. And therefore a punishment must be imposed to restore your honor.”

Karai hesitated before bowing once more. There was no point in fighting or begging for this to stop. She chose this path but she wouldn’t be foolish enough to leave it to head into the woods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He really let his anger out with that.

Karai hissed as she covered a bruise forming on her cheek. This was the least of her problems. She had plenty of other injuries. Plus 2 weeks of being suspended from field work.

That meant no school. No kickboxing. No hanging out with April. . . Nevermind. That still wasn’t an option until she apologized. But hey. She only had to wait 2 weeks for that awkward conversation. Yaaay

Speaking of which, Karai might as well have put her mask back on before she walked into her shared room. But no she was too tired for that and could use a discussion with Jennika no matter how restricted the seriousness of the tone could be.

She was already half way to her bed before her sister noticed her arrival. She was fiddling with her guitar. A common sign that quite the show had happened while she was gone.

“You will not believe how low Lieutenant has fallen. I saw him sparring with like 2 newbies, straight of the street, and they beat his ass so go-”

Jennika stopped mid sentence as Karai dropped to sit on her bed. Her wide smile of mischief was swapped with a look of concern melting from rage to annoyance. Jenn threw done her guitar carelessly.

“Ano meinu no musuko.” Karai’s roommate grumbled as she dug around for their first aid kit. They always made sure to have one in case of training or . . . situations. Like this.

Karai didn’t need to handle another situation right now. Especially if it put Jennika in danger. “Hey. Don’t bring my grandmother into this.”

Jenn turned her head furiously. “Unless she was like you then I don’t give a shit.”

“And if she was?” Karai playfully countered.

“Then screw me. At least she probably wasn’t half as reckless with her body as you are with yours.” Jenn flicked her forehead. Karai didn’t mind. She managed to lighten the mood.

Instead of focusing on Jenn’s poor medical technique, she started to pick that the fabric of the mattress. It was soft and firm.

. . .

“Jenn.”

Her sister hummed in response.“Thanks for breaking the tension. Felt like I was bouta choke on it.”

That got a chuckle out of both of them.

“I . . . I need you to call me a different name. When we’re out doing missions.”

“Is this because of the talk that got you and dad into this whole situation?” Jenn dramatically jestured to her face at the last bit.

Karai was honestly a little shocked. Her sister was blunt to say the least. But not usually when it came to situations. One of the few topics where she kept her opinion to herself. Karai was used to and thankful for that.

It wasn’t much of a topic one would like to discuss.

“Can we not talk about it?”

“Who said we would?”

Karai really did try not to let the feelings show but somehow they snuck onto her face. Jenn seemed to notice, seeing by the way her face detensed. She let out a frustrated sigh.

“Whatever happened, all I know is the only reason you’re here is because whatever you did that upset him was important enough to you to make you do it and find excuse to get you out.” Jenn pressed her forehead against Karai’s. “As long as you’re still smart and careful enough to keep getting out alive enough to be fixable then I don’t need to ask anything.”

Karai smiled as she leaned into her sister. “Watashi?”

“Anata.”

They sat for a while. It was dangerous to have moments like this in public. Compassion can be used easily as a tool against you in a ninja clan. Especially one as prestige as the Foot. So they saved this for their room. When they needed a place and person to let the walls fall down.

Jenn broke the silence by getting up to pick up her guitar. “So.” She clapped on the word. “What do you want me to call you? On the field?”

Karai thought about that for a minute. Looking around the room before landing on her bed. An old ichimatsu doll rested in the corner. Supposedly from her mother. She remembered blurs of being quite attached to the thing. But could never hook onto the memory of how the silky hair had become stained from blood.

“How about Miwe?”

Jenn snorted as she flopped back on her bed, guitar in her lap. “Alright! I like it. You ready to hear about what happened while you were gone now, Miwe.”

Karai chuckled at the thought of such antics. “Sure. I’ve got time to kill.”

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ONE MORE PART AND WE’RE DONE WITH THIS STORY!!! Ah I had so much fun writing the sisters ever in the Foot (yes they are sisters and no they aren’t a ship). As well as sprinkling in a little lore. Stay tuned for the last part.

Cowabunga turtle fanz!